Packing material



Dec. 5, 1939. c. s. CRICKMER r AL 2,182,251

PACKING MATERIAL lFiled July 23, 1937 Patented Dec. 5, 1939 PACKING MATERIAL Charles S. Crickmer and Roy A. Lamb, Dallas, Tex., assignors to Merla Tool Company, Dallas,

Tex., a firm Application July 23, 1937, Serial No. 155,293

7 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in packers.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved well packer having means for controlling the flow of well uid therethrough, said means being so arranged as to positively prevent the flow therethrough when the packer is in a set position.

Another object of the invention is to provide 1U an improved well packer having sliding means for sealing a closed valve, and means for preventing the flow of fluid past the sealing means.

Still another object of the invention is' to provide an improved well packer having a sleeve slidable within the bore of a member, and elastic packing means for sealing the clearance space between the end of the sleeve and the bore of the member, whereby a positive seal is provided for preventing the flow of iiuid through the 20 packer and al1 danger of leakage is eliminated.

A further object of the invention is to provide a distortable packing element adapted to be engaged by the end of a sleeve valve, whereby said sleeve distorts the element into sealing position 25 when moved to its closed position, which seal positively prevents i'luid from flowing through the packer.

A construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafter described, together 30 with other features of the invention.

'I'he invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specication and by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which an example of the invention is shown, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a vertical, cross-sectional viev showing the upper portion of a well packer, constructed in accordance with the invention, disposed wlthin a well casing, the packing element being ln its normal position.

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, showing the packing element in its distorted position, and the slldable means in engagement therewith.

In the drawing, the numeral I0 designates an 45 elongate tubular mandrel which is provided with suitable screw-threads at its upper end. This upper end of the mandrel is threaded into the lower end of an elongate coupling collar I2, which collar has its upper end internally threaded at 50 I3, whereby said collar may be connected to a well tubing I4. 'Ihe lower end of the mandrel is provided with similar threads I5, thereby permitting said mandrel to be readily connected at any point in the well tubing.

55 'I'he coupling collar is enlarged at its lower end and this enlarged portion is provided with a depending annular skirt I6, as is clearly shown in Figure 1. The inner diameter or bore I1 of said skirt is greater than the outer diameter of the mandrel I0, whereby an annular space I8 is 5 formed between the skirt and the mandrel. The extreme lower end of the skirt I6 is beveled at I9 to form a seating surface. An elongate sleeve 2| surrounds the mandrel I0 and has an inner diameter which is greater than the outer diam- 10 eter of the mandrel, whereby an annular flow space or passage 22 is formed between the mandrel and sleeve. An elongate, elastic packing element 23, constructed of rubber or other similar material with suitable reinforcing rings molded therewithin, surrounds the sleeve 2|. The upper end of the packing element is reduced and is engaged by a anged cap 24, which has an annular recess in its lower end to receive said packing element. An annular thimble 25 surrounds 20 the mandrel Il), and is internally screw-threaded at its upper end to receive the lower end of the sleeve 2|, said mandrel being supported by an annular shoulder 26 provided at the lower portion of the mandrel. The upper end of said 25 thimble has an annular recess in its upper portion to receive the lower end of the packing element 23, whereby said packing element is conned on the sleeve 2| between the thimble and the cap 24. 30

The cap 24 is provided with a bore 21 which bore has a diameter equal to the bore of the skirt I6. The upper end of the cap is provided with an annular bevel 28 which forms a valve seat, and this bevel is inclined at the same angle as the bevel I9 formed on the underside of the skirt I6. The cap is formed with an internal annular shoulder 3| which is arranged to be engaged by an outwardly directed annular ange 32 which is formed at the extreme upper end of 40 the sleeve 2|. The engagement of the flange with the shoulder occurswhen the packing element 23 is in its normal or unexpanded position as shown in Figure 1. The ange and shoulder serve to limit the movement of the sleeve 2| with 45 relation 4to the packing element 23, as will be hereinafter explained.

The thimble 25, which is threaded on the lower end of the sleeve 2|, has an axial bore 29, which is of such size to form a continuation of the vertical annular space 22 which is provided between the mandrel IIJ and the sleeve 2|. The thimble is provided with a plurality of radial ports or openings 30, whereby communication is established between the interior of the Well casing and the vertical space 22. Therefore, it will be seen that when the skirt I6 is lifted so that its bevel I9 is not engaging the annular seat 28 of the cap 24, fluid may ow from the Well casing, through the port 30, annular space 22, and then outwardly through the space between the cap 26 and the skirt I6. With this arrangement, it is obvious that the iluid may by-pass the packing element 23 by passing through the body of the well packer.

The above construction is clearly set forth in co-pending application, Serial No. 92,428, now Patent No. 2,131,274, granted September 27, 1938, and is described here in order that this invention may be more readily understood. For setting the packer, a liner A is placed in the well casing, whereby the thimble 25 will engage and be supported by the liner. It is noted that any other suitable stop means might be employed. When the packing element is distorted radially into `engagement with the wall of the casing, the upper portion of the sleeve 2|` will move into the opening of the skirt I6. At the same time, the outer periphery of the annular flange 32 engages the inner wall or bore of the skirt, and the bevel I9 at the underside of said skirt moves into engagement with the annular bevel 28 of the cap 25. When this occurs, the ow of i'luid through the packer is cut 01T. However, it is pointed out that extraneous matter and abrasive material will accumulate on the seat 28, whereby a positive closing of 'the uid passage is prevented and uid is permitted to force its way up and around the sleeve 2 l, into the spaces I8 and 22, and then through the ports 3U,

To prevent this leakage of uid through the packer, an annular elastic packing ring 20, constructed of rubber, rubber compound or other similar material, is provided within the upper end of the annular space I8 of the skirt I6. Said packing ring, having a diameter substantially equal to or greater than the bore I1 of said skirt, is secured thereto by oil-proof glue or other suitable means, whereby said packing ring is conned within said skirt and adheres to and engages the inner walls thereof. When the bevel i9 and the seat 28 are in engagement, the ange 32 will positively engage and distort the ring 20, whereby a triple valve means is provided. The outer portion of said ring being displaced by engagement with the flange, the inner portion thereof will be distorted downwardly so as to enter the upper end of the sleeve 2|, and said outer portion will more snugly engage the inner walls of the skirt I6, whereby a positive oil-tight seal is formed. It is pointed out that, since the sleeve must be slidable with relation to the skirt, there must be a slight clearance` between the outer edge of the flange of said sleeve and the bore of said skirt; and it is obvious that the arrangement of the packing ring prevents aleakage of uid under pressure. It is also noted that instead of the elastic packing ring, as herein described, a soft metallic material, suchvas lead, might be employed with similar results.

What weclaim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: I

1. A well packer including, a packing element, a sleeve immovably carried by the pacln'ng eleaisaaei ment, closure means having a recess for receiving one end of the sleeve, and packing means housed within the recess oi closure means for engaging the end of said sleeve when the sleeve enters said closure means, whereby a positive seal is had.

2. A well packer including, a packing element, a sleeve carried .by the packing element, a closure means having a depending skirt for receiving and overhanging one end of the sleeve when the packing element is in its s'et position, and packing means housed within the upper portion of said skirt for engaging and sealing the end of the sleeve.

3. A well packer including, a packing element having a movable part and an immovable member normally within the movable part arranged to project therefrom4 when said element is set in packing position, and a movable closure having closing means engaging the movable part of the packing element, and a packing withinl the closure for receiving the immovable member and sealing oi said member.

4. A well packer including, a packing element having a movable part and an immovable member normally within the movable part arranged to project therefrom when said element is set in packing position, a movable closure having closing means engaging the movable part of the packing element, and a packing within the closure for receiving the immovable member and sealing oi said member, and a normally open by-pass through the immovable member of the packing element closed and sealed at its upper end by the closure packing when the member engages said packing.

5. A well packer including, a packing element having a by-pass extending therethrough and a. seat, a closure arranged to be moved into engagement with the seat of said element to close said by-pass, and a separate packing carried by the closure free from engagement with said seat arranged to engage a portion of said packing element other than the seat to additionally close o" said by-pass.

6. A well packer including, a sleeve having a by-pass therethrough, a deformable packing mounted on said sleeve, a collar having a seat slidably mounted on said sleeve and resting upon said packing, a closure having a bore and a face for engaging the seat of the collar to depress said collar and expand the packing, whereby the sleeve telescopes the bore of the closure, and a ange on the sleeve engaged by the collar to limit the return -movement of said collar when the closure is removed.

'7. A well packer including, a sleeve having a by-pass therethrough, a deformable packing mounted on said sleeve, a collar having a seat slidably mounted on said sleeve and resting upon said packing, a closure having a bore and a face for engaging the seat of the collar to depress said collar and expand the packing, whereby the sleeve vtelescopes the bore of the closure, and a packing in the bore of the closure engaged by said sleeve whenit telescopes saidbore.

CHARLES S. CRICKMER. ROY A. LAMB. 

